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Listen to the latest interview with Jana Hollingsworth on Evolution Revolution Radio:

www.dulcineasdivinevision.com/evolutionrevolution.aspx or www.EvolutionRevolutionRadio.com

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Click here to listen to Jana's latest radio interview with Aline Hanle of Conscious Fitness on BBS Radio - 4/15/08.

This Month's Article
By: Jana Hollingsworth.

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Random Acts of Kindness: The Benefits of Giving

I read an article recently that talked about the health benefits of giving. A new report that drew from the results of over 30 studies on the topic said that people who volunteer and give of themselves enjoy longer lives, have higher functional ability and lower rates of depression! The study also showed that it was just as important to give of yourself as it was to exercise, quit smoking and live a healthy lifestyle. I thought these were pretty significant findings and worth looking into.

I've noticed that when you give of yourself and your time, you are truly connecting and sharing yourself with the world. It doesn't have to be big things. You don't have to give up your career and sign up for a full time position volunteering at the Red Cross. It's more often about the smaller things we can do on a daily basis. It could be anything from holding a door open for someone to listening to a friend in need. These small deeds are appreciated by others and can help you feel better about yourself, make you feel more "in touch" with people and deepen your connections to those in your daily life.

Years ago, I worked at a wonderful company that encouraged its employees to volunteer. We were given paid days off in exchange for a certain amount of hours spent volunteering. We could choose any organization that we felt an affinity with. Since I'm an animal lover, I chose to volunteer at a local “no-kill” shelter. The shelter was run by a 90-year-old woman who depended on the kindness of strangers coming in to help her out. I would go in once a week and spend about four hours walking dogs or sitting with disabled animals that could no longer use their legs. It was an eye opening experience for me. This shelter survived on donations and the goodness of people who came in to help care for all these animals. I was so impressed and amazed that a woman of her age would spend every waking hour doing whatever she could for these animals and take on that kind of responsibility. It taught me that no matter what your age, you never have to stop giving and caring. As a matter of fact, the more you give of yourself, the more meaning your life will have knowing that you have touched another's life in some small (or perhaps big) way. There is nothing more fulfilling or gratifying than knowing you were able to make a difference in someone's life. Working at that shelter was a wonderful experience for me - one that I will never forget.
Another form of giving is to be able to share your enthusiasm, happiness or heartfelt joy at someone else's good fortune. If someone in your office gets a promotion, congratulate them and be sincere in your actions. If your friend wins the lottery, be truly happy for them. Most of us think in terms of "lack." If good things happen to others, there won't be enough left for us. Actually, just the opposite is true. If you understand the Law of Attraction, you know that what you focus your energy on will manifest in your life. If you are busy putting all of your energy into jealousy or selfishness (which represents lack), you will attract the same into your life. Know that there is enough abundance for all of us to share.

If you'd like to get a jumpstart on learning how to give, here are some suggestions to get you started:
Try leaving a BIG tip the next time you go to a restaurant
Let that car cut in front of you, even though you could crowd him out
Make the time to take your dog for a nice long walk instead of just around the block
Bring food to an elderly neighbor. Call an elderly relative
Give a compliment to a stranger
Tell the people closest to you that you love them
Hold the elevator door open for someone
Join a charity organization that resonates with you
Praise your co-worker for a job well done
Give up your seat on the bus/subway
Smile at a stranger

I've started practicing random acts of kindness and am truly enjoying the benefits. Each day I make it a point to look people in the eye when I'm walking somewhere and smile at them. I have also been taking the time to strike up a conversation with the girl at the checkout line at the grocery store or give a compliment to someone in an elevator. I feel good each and every time I do these little things. It makes the other person feel good about being acknowledged and I feel good inside each time I make an effort to brighten someone's day even just a little bit.

Giving of yourself includes not only being able to give to the people closest to you but also being able to reach beyond your comfort zone and help those strangers you don't know who may be in need. It’s very easy to get sidetracked by stress and the annoyances of daily life, but research now shows that you can reduce your own stress and someone else’s by offering even a small token of kindness on a regular basis. Enjoy the act of giving and practice a random act of kindness today and help make a difference in someone else's life and your own.
To book a Mediumship or Human Design reading, contact Jana Hollingsworth at janaroseh@yahoo.com Jana is an Intuitive Life Coach, Medium and Human Design Analyst www.dreamsnmotion.com